Poonam Pandey to show off her legs on a Slut Walk

Controversy's favourite child - Poonam Pandey - sure knows how to steer a storm. Hot on the heels of turning down a multi-crore offer to strip on national television, Poonam has decided to champion the cause of women through a Slut Walk in Mumbai in September.

What encouraged her to take on the cause was the alarming rate of crimes against women. Rapes, eve-teasing, molestation, have been on the rise in most cities across the country. And each time for some reason or the other, the woman is blamed for the crime.

“It’s almost like the woman was at fault that she was raped. How can we let such heinous crimes go unpunished and berate the victim instead for it,” said Poonam.

Seeing an urgent need to organise and support the cause of the Slut Walk, the leggy lass volunteered to lead the march in September.

“This is the first time that I am supporting a cause and it’s high time that people come forward and voice their opinions against the atrocities against women,” she says. She adds, “Showing my legs doesn’t mean I will spread them. God gave women legs, so we show them off. God gave men eyes to see, so please stick to that!”

Don’t blame the victim

Why is it that the woman is always held ‘responsible’ for a crime against her? The argument is always that the woman was dressed provocatively, and enticed the man towards her.

“It's high time an initiative like this is carried out. The girl is always blamed and the guy gets to walk free. It’s the girl who has to 'save' her family from such embarrassment. What about the guy? Shouldn't he be blamed for putting his family through such shame?”

“A girl should be able to wear whatever she's comfortable in, without worrying about being teased. It's the men who need to control their impulses. I am really looking forward to lead the walk and I am trying my best through Facebook & Twitter to get more people to come and participate in the Walk,” Poonam says, adding that Mumbaikars will come forward in huge numbers to support the Slut Walk.

Save the nation

“Crimes against women have always tarnished the country’s image. Several cases of rapes, molestation, eve teasing have been reported in the capital and even in progressive metros. And several cases go unreported,” said the organiser Tejan Botadra.

Although, there are several reactions to this particular protest, Sunil Huske, CEO of a Film Academy in Mumbai says, “Looking at the male mentality in India, the Slut Walk is going to be nothing more than a 'tamasha' for them. If you want to make a change, it has to start at a much younger age. The impact will stay with them forever. The Slut Walk will fade from public memory very soon."

The social networking sites have greatly been involved in galvanizing the movement. From Facebook fan pages to Twitter, discussions have sparked global attention. Several debates and heated arguments have been taking place on the very definition of the word "slut". Can it be defined only by the way a few women dress up? Or by the way they talk? Or their choice of lifestyle?

Can there be pride taken in the usage of the word "slut"? The movement is clearly against perpetrators of sexual crimes, against the mentality that looks down upon women.

And most women are taking part in this protest to put the point across that no woman, whatever she wears, however she thinks, can ever ‘ask’ to be raped.

Slut Walk

The now famous Slut Walk started in response to a Toronto police officer’s comment, "Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised." It originated with an intention to protest against the belief that female rape victims are "asking for it".

After making a point in Toronto, it further went on to become a success in many big cities across the globe. Cities like Melbourne, Brisbane, Saskatoon and Montreal got a response. There are several cities which are now joining this global mission, and Mumbai will see the biggest Slut Walk to happen anywhere in the world.